Books on Justice & Injustice

James Baldwin said, "It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." In this collection, we've compiled texts that explore the idea of what justice is — and how it can thrive.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

by Ken Kesey

Publication year 1962

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma & Abuse, Health, Relationships, Education, Education, Psychology, Psychology

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a historical fiction novel by Ken Kesey, published in 1962. Kesey drew on his experiences working in a veterans’ hospital to develop a critique of then-current psychiatric practices. The novel’s central conflict between a domineering nurse and an unruly patient can also be read as an allegory for the emerging culture wars of the 1960s. The novel was adapted into a Broadway play one year after its publication... Read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Summary

One Foot in Eden

by Ron Rash

Publication year 2002

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Guilt, Regret, Indigenous Identity, Environment, Place, Family, Colonialism, Justice, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Southern Gothic, Southern Literature, Gothic Literature

One Foot in Eden is a 2002 crime novel by Ron Rash. Rash employs a blend of Southern Gothic and detective fiction to create suspense and explore the psychological inner conflict of the characters. The novel follows five different narrators as the people of Jocassee, South Carolina, discover the murder of Holland Winchester. As the investigation continues, the characters must come to terms with the displacement of their community while Carolina Power evicts the inhabitants... Read One Foot in Eden Summary

One L

by Scott Turow

Publication year 1977

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Education, The Past, Perseverance, Self Discovery, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Education, Crime & Law

One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School is Scott Turow’s debut memoir, first published in 1977. The book is autobiographical and follows Scott’s first full year at Harvard Law School, where he experiences an intense learning curve and tumultuous emotions as he toils to keep pace with his classmates. The book gained attention for expressing the pitfalls of the Socratic method and is credited for popularizing the term... Read One L Summary

One Native Life

by Richard Wagamese

Publication year 2008

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Gratitude, Guilt, Hope, Loneliness, Memory, Shame & Pride, Indigenous Identity, Language, Animals, Plants, Place, Self Discovery, Colonialism, Community, Education, Nation, Art, Beauty, Equality, Fate, Justice, Literature, Music, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags World History, Biography

... Read One Native Life Summary

On Juneteenth

by Annette Gordon-Reed

Publication year 2021

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Loyalty & Betrayal, Trust & Doubt, Justice, Power & Greed, Fear, Memory, Perseverance, Nostalgia, Conflict

Tags US History, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, Education, Politics & Government, World History

... Read On Juneteenth Summary

Only the Beautiful

by Susan Meissner

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Mothers, Daughters & Sons, Perseverance, Regret, Coming of Age, Politics & Government, War, Justice, Family

Tags Historical Fiction, World War II, Military & War, World History, Mental Illness

... Read Only the Beautiful Summary

Ophie's Ghosts

by Justina Ireland

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Memory, Femininity, Race, Coming of Age, Death, The Past, Family, Social Class, Economics, Equality, Justice, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Crime Fiction, African American Literature

... Read Ophie's Ghosts Summary

Orestes

by Euripides

Publication year 409

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Justice, Revenge

Tags Tragedy, Mythology, Ancient Greece, Dramatic Literature, Drama, Classical Period, World History, Fantasy, Classic Fiction

... Read Orestes Summary